New Retro Arcade: Neon
- August 1, 2016
- Digital Cybercherries
- 4h median play time
Build your own Timezone, or Tons of Fun.
Get on Steam"New Retro Arcade: Neon" is a virtual reality game that brings a nostalgic arcade experience to life with its neon-lit design. Players can explore a variety of classic arcade games, minigames, and create their own custom cabinets. This game also supports local multiplayer, allowing friends to join in on the retro fun.
PC
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- Incredible nostalgic atmosphere that captures the essence of 80s and 90s arcades.
- Highly customizable with options to upload your own ROMs, music, and videos, allowing for a personalized arcade experience.
- Fun mini-games like bowling, darts, and air hockey add variety and enjoyment beyond just arcade machines.
- Setting up the game can be complicated and time-consuming, requiring users to find and configure their own ROMs and artwork.
- Multiplayer functionality is limited, as friends cannot play the same arcade machines or see each other's games.
- Some emulators and games may not work properly, leading to crashes and frustrating experiences.
- music66 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is highly customizable, allowing players to import their own tracks, create mixtapes, and set the nostalgic atmosphere of an 80s arcade. While the setup process can be fiddly, the payoff is a deeply immersive experience filled with personal music choices and classic hits that enhance the overall ambiance. However, some users noted issues with streaming music and the default attract music being overly loud, which can detract from the experience.
“You need to put some work in, like sourcing your own ROMs and video/music files, but when you piece it all together with the attract screens blaring out and some classic 80's pop and rock hits playing on the ghetto blaster, it truly is something very special.”
“The 80s atmosphere with the awesome lighting and music creates an experience that is absolutely unparalleled.”
“Although it takes some work to set up, there is a huge payoff in the nostalgia you will feel standing in front of an arcade cabinet, playing your favorite game, with 80s music playing in the background.”
“The ability to stream music and videos is almost totally broken.”
“The attract-audio of the single cabinet in the smallest room cannot be turned off, meaning that you have to play the SNES in a room with an unchangeable arcade that blasts out quite annoying music.”
“You have to either make an empty tape or just put it as far as you can because of the obnoxiously loud music it plays.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are widely praised for their stunning realism and attention to detail, particularly in recreating the nostalgic 80s arcade aesthetic. Users appreciate the ability to customize cabinet artwork and settings, although achieving optimal visuals requires significant effort and technical know-how. While some initial performance issues were noted, the overall visual experience, especially in VR, is considered exceptional, making it a rewarding endeavor for those willing to invest time in setup.
“The graphics in this title are exceptional too!”
“The graphics are outstanding and the visuals on the arcade machines, fake SNES, and Game Boy look very realistic.”
“That being said, New Retro Arcade: Neon really nails the 80s arcade feel, and looks stunning graphically and aesthetically, and once you get your arcade set up just the way you want it, you'll never want to leave.”
“You need a degree in video editing and graphic design to get attract movies and posters to appear correctly.”
“While the VR implementation has visually striking scenery atmosphere and visuals, the interactivity is bare bones, with nothing but teleportation for movement.”
“NRA looks impressive even with lower-end computers when using low-resolution graphics/artwork and no attract videos, but in order to achieve a truly amazing arcade look, you need to use all the features available at high details, which can hit your wallet in the form of a high-end gaming PC.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic 80s and 90s vibe, enhanced by detailed graphics, immersive soundtracks, and a variety of interactive elements that create an authentic arcade experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the overall enjoyment derived from the environment, although some note limitations in interactivity and multiplayer support. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The atmosphere is engrossing and the attention to detail is awesome.”
“The 80s atmosphere with the awesome lighting and music creates an experience that is absolutely unparalleled.”
“The game has a great sense of atmosphere; everything from the color scheme to the sound of the 80's music is perfect.”
“While the VR implementation has visually striking scenery and atmosphere, the interactivity is bare bones, with nothing but teleportation for movement.”
“Finding this atmosphere is basically impossible these days.”
“If you are up to fiddling around a lot and configuring the game yourself, I guess it is an okay 80's arcade simulator with an authentic atmosphere.”
- stability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing issues across various platforms, particularly with Oculus and Vive. While some players note that the app is well-optimized for certain hardware, the overall experience is marred by significant troubleshooting requirements and persistent technical problems, leading many to feel it resembles an early access title.
“The app is very well optimized and runs great on a 1060 3GB, even with good supersampling.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which speaks volumes about its stability.”
“This game is very buggy right now, it almost should have been an early access game.”
“Emulation itself is very buggy, had all sorts of issues with sticking controls, audio cut-outs, etc.”
“Even after spending 10-15 minutes troubleshooting why cabinets wouldn't work (they had all the art, but were stuck at the splash screen) - I couldn't even play them!”
- optimization15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization feedback is mixed; while Nvidia DLSS support enhances performance and anti-aliasing, some users report initial graphical issues such as blurriness and jagged edges, particularly with certain hardware setups. Tweaking in-game settings can negatively impact performance, and there are specific notes about video files affecting gameplay. However, many players experience solid performance on various graphics cards, with some praising the game's optimization for VR and emulation support.
“Nvidia DLSS support for better performance and better anti-aliasing.”
“The app is also very well optimized, runs great on a 1060 3GB, even with good super sampling.”
“And performance on a 970 is great, much better than I had expected.”
“Initial blurry and low resolution / bad optimization - I have a good 3x series graphics card and am using the Index headset, but when launching the game it looked very bad with blur and jaggies.”
“Tweaking the in-game video settings really hurt my performance.”
“I’m using WMR and the controls are definitely not optimized for it.”
- story11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's story is minimal or non-existent, with users primarily focused on technical issues related to controller compatibility and performance. While some players appreciate the nostalgic experience of revisiting classic arcade games in VR, the lack of a compelling narrative detracts from the overall experience.
“First was Wolfenstein 3D, then Doom, Quake, but with the introduction of VR technology on the Oculus Quest 2 and New Retro Arcade Neon, I can transport myself back in time to the mid-80s with all my favorite arcade songs, movies, console games, etc. It just brings so much joy as reality slips away when I'm walking through my 80's arcade.”
“Story: doesn't have”
“Let’s just stall those guys indefinitely with the same story about the mythical coder who'll 'look at it'…”
“Game no longer working with meta quest 3”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its potential but criticizing the clunky teleportation mechanic and poorly executed physics. Players find the lack of multiplayer features and the restrictive gameplay mechanics frustrating, often detracting from the overall experience.
“Gameplay: 10/10”
“The teleportation mechanic is clunky.”
“Unfortunately, the physics, the 'grip' of the ball, and overall game mechanics (in VR) are poorly executed and add little to no value to the title.”
“I can understand the reason behind this, but it basically means that most of your play session is spent fighting against this mechanic, searching for the circle if you physically moved outside of it.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their childhood experiences in arcades from the 80s and 90s. The nostalgic elements, such as the attract screens and music, evoke deep feelings of joy and sentimentality, leading to moments of laughter and tears as they relive those formative memories.
“This is the first game that made me feel like I was 10 or 11 years old again.”
“I'm physically and emotionally excited as I play this.”
“The first two songs had me laughing and crying (deep emotional happy crying), remembering what an experience that time frame was for me.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by nostalgic elements that evoke deep emotional responses, blending laughter with sentimentality. Players appreciate the clever hidden features, such as amusing newspaper clippings and a quirky robot that adds to the lighthearted atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with a sense of nostalgia, making it a memorable experience.
“It's kind of funny that I spent $2500+ on a Vive setup and I'm recommending an old 80s/90s arcade as one of the ultimate experiences you can get for it.”
“The first two songs had me laughing and crying (deep emotional happy crying), remembering what an experience that time frame was for me.”
“The game also has lots of interesting 'hidden' features like the humorous newspaper clippings on the wall, the little robot that wanders about (that I have to keep picking up and putting back on its feet).”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the enhanced replayability offered by the ability to switch between VR controllers and traditional gamepads, allowing for a more versatile and enjoyable gaming experience. This flexibility in control options encourages players to revisit games with different play styles.
“The variety of choices and paths in the game makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“I love how the game encourages multiple playstyles, allowing me to experience something new every time I play.”
“The random events and dynamic world keep me coming back for more, as no two sessions are ever the same.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express strong dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, particularly criticizing the excessive advertising associated with the game.
“The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and ruins the gameplay experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many paywalls that hinder progress unless you spend real money.”
“The constant ads and in-game purchases make it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as it requires significant effort to achieve progress and make everything function properly.
“But it's incredibly tedious in the way you have to get everything to work.”
“The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a job than a hobby.”
